Container with releasable closure

Abstract

A container comprising a sheet metal wall portion (a) having a closure formed therein, the closure comprising a slit (s) in said wall portion (a) the margins of which by cold working have been caused to overlap to provide overlapping surfaces (b), (g) which cooperate to close the container, the wall portion (a) being deformable by manual pressure on a part (c) thereof remote from the closure to move said overlapping surfaces (b), (g) apart to define an opening (q) therebetween.

I claim: 
     
       1. A metal end cover for a container comprising a wall portion divided by a slit opening into a moveable actuating underlap part and a substantially static overlap part, the static overlap part overlapping the underlap actuating part at the margins of the slit opening and the overlap being closed with the underlap to form an overlapped edge leakproof seal; said end cover being further characterised in that the underlap actuating part includes an indentable actuating area remote from the area defined by the overlapped edge seal and not contacted by fluid flowing from a container closed by the cover after opening of the overlapped edge seal, said indentable actuating area being located on a line that intersects a line joining the ends of the slit in a direction away from the overlapped edge seal and being stiff in construction and able to transmit to the underlap part of the overlapped edge seal along the said intersecting line a seal separating force applied to the indentable actuating area, the application of external force at said indentable actuating area serving to break open the seal and form a substantially tubular passageway through the slit opening between the overlapping margins of said overlap static and underlap moveable actuating parts for directing fluid flow out from a container closed by the end cover in a spout-like manner. 
     
     
       2. A metal end cover as claimed in claim 1 for a container of pressurised fluid providing internal force wherein the inner area of the moveable actuating part is greater and acted upon by more of said pressure than the inner area of the fixed part. 
     
     
       3. A metal end cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container or end cover includes venting means for venting the container at a point different from the slit opening. 
     
     
       4. A metal end cover as claimed in claim 1 further including a sealant interposed between the overlapping margins of the static and actuating parts that form the overlapped edge leakproof seal. 
     
     
       5. A metal end cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuating part is formed raised in the closed condition and indented toward the container in the open tubular passage forming condition. 
     
     
       6. A metal end cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container or end cover includes venting means for venting the container at a point different from the slit opening. 
     
     
       7. A metal end cover as claimed in claim 6 further including a sealant interposed between the overlapping margins of the static and actuating parts that form the overlapped edge leakproof seal. 
     
     
       8. A metal end cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the actuating part is formed raised in the closed condition and indented toward the container in the open tubular passage forming condition. 
     
     
       9. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 1 or 3 wherein definition and deformation of the moveable actuating part is predetermined by provision of stiffening ribs, hingeability axial to creasing, compressibility at corrugation, and captivity by a rim in any combination or arrangement. 
     
     
       10. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 1 wherein the overlapped edge seal is so formed that upon said moveable actuating part being indented to move the overlapping edges apart and open the slit opening a pouring spout mouth inherently is provided. 
     
     
       11. A metal end cover for a container according to either of claims 1, 8 or 10 wherein at least one of said overlapping static and moveable actuating parts defining the slit opening is formed as a spout mouth able to take advantage of the inclination of flowing liquid to cling to the surface to which it has become attached and thereafter depart from the surface cleanly in a spout-like manner through flow being planar to the spout mouth. 
     
     
       12. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 10 further including venting means openable for venting a container on which the end cover is used. 
     
     
       13. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 12 wherein the external force applied to said indentable actuating area also is applied to a vent opening for opening it. 
     
     
       14. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 8 wherein definition and deformation of the moveable actuating part is predetermined by provision of stiffening ribs, hingeability axial to creasing, compressibility at corrugation, and captivity by a rim in any combination or arrangement. 
     
     
       15. A metal end cover for a container according to either of claims 1, 8, 10 or 14 wherein said moveable actuating part is reclosable. 
     
     
       16. A container having an end cover constructed according to either of claims 1, 8, 10 or 14. 
     
     
       17. A metal end cover for a container according to either of claims 1, 8, 10 or 14 wherein a part of the moveable actuating part which is indentable to open the overlapped edge seal is so formed that it can be sprung between a position in which the slit opening is closed and a position in which the slit opening is open. 
     
     
       18. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 1, 8, 10 or 14 wherein the end cover is so formed that manual pressure on a predetermined part of a container wall with which the cover is used adjacent said cover after the slit opening has been opened will cause the moveable actuating part of the cover to be sprung to a position in which the slit opening is closed. 
     
     
       19. A metal end cover for a container according to either of claims 1, 8 or 14 wherein the moveable actuating part has an extension which overlies an adjacent part of the container on which the cover is used, said extension being capable of opening or closing the slit opening upon the application of a force thereto in the right direction. 
     
     
       20. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 14 wherein the end cover includes overlapping edge seal means separate from the slit opening for venting a container with which the end cover is used. 
     
     
       21. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 1 wherein said cover further includes vent means for venting a container with which the cover is used, said vent means comprising a second small opening in said end cover which is smaller than a human finger and a separate closure member which closes said second small opening and moveable by manual pressure, said closure member comprising a part of the end cover which has been cut to form said small opening, the end cover portion around said small opening and the closure member having been so formed that the end cover portion overlaps a margin of the closure member with a leakproof seal therebetween and with the closure member not being completely severed from the end cover portion surrounding the small opening but remains connected thereto by an integral hinge portion. 
     
     
       22. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 21 wherein the ends of the line of cut defining said small vent opening are substantially parallel on each side of the hinge portion to define a neck connecting the closure member to the end cover, said neck being overlapped on each side thereof and said closure member being extended parallel to and below its original plane to underlap the surrounding marginal edge of the end cover and the connecting neck moved radially. 
     
     
       23. A metal end cover for a container according to claim 14 wherein said vent means is integral with said slit opening closed by said overlapped edge seal and wherein the slit opening is so formed that upon a container closed by the cover being opened and tilted to a pouring position, the slit opening will comprise a lower pouring spout portion and a upper vent portion. 
     
     
       24. A container for containing carbonated beverages having a cover constructed according to either of claims 20-23.